I was watching the news on Christmas Day 2016, when I saw something that would change my world: "Musician George Michael has died at age 53. " I went numb. Was this a joke? After checking other sources, it was not a joke...My first music crush was gone.

I have loved this man's music literally ALL my life: I first heard him before I went to preschool in 1984. I first fell in love with him when I heard "Everything She Wants" on the radio. I was obsessed with that song. Every time I hear that song on the radio, I get choked up.

In 1991, my then-babysitter knew how much I liked George, and she bought me two notebooks, which are on this page.

In 1992, I heard "Too Funky" for the first time. I like that song so much, I bought the single.

In 1993, I attempted to try to do a George song for the talent show. I had tried to do "Hard Day" because I thought it sounded cool. (I was naive when it came to anything sexual) Without giving me a reason, I was rejected. (I was confused because I thought that it was under 5 minutes, per the rules, so it would be acceptable!)

At the time, I was also into Elton John; I have always been fascinated by things in common. The way they sang together was nothing short of magic, in my humble opinion.

Fast -forward to the morning of December 27, 2012. That day was the 25th anniversary of my father's passing. The first song I heard when I turned on the radio that morning was, you guessed it, "Everything She Wants." (said to his picture, "I got the message, thank you, Dad!")

Other songs that I heard that morning were "Don't You Forget About Me" (Simple Minds) , "Always SomethingThere to Remind Me" (NakedEyes) and "It's a Beautiful Day" (U2)

If I could have donated my hair in memory, I would have...I have already donated my hair five times, and I had no idea what would happen on Christmas 2016!

On April 7, 2017, I put up this permanent tribute to the first musician I truly loved. Be at peace, George! I Love You , I mean it, Katie

Press play to hear "Last Christmas"

2016 took some of greatest musicians...

May they all be at peace! (These three are just a fraction of the musicians lost in 2016)

Flowers for George

George with one of his musical influences, Paul McCartney

George and Stevie Wonder

You have been loved...

Read me my rights

Music from the Edge of Heaven

Side one – Hot Side

1."The Edge of Heaven" – 4:31

2."Battlestations" – 5:25

3."I'm Your Man" – 6:05

4."Wham Rap! '86" (Michael, Andrew Ridgeley) – 6:33

Side two – Cool Side

5."A Different Corner" (with introduction) – 4:30

6."Blue" (Live in China) – 5:43

7."Where Did Your Heart Go?" (David Was, Don Was) – 5:43

8."Last Christmas" (Pudding Mix) – 6:44

WHAM! The Final

1. Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)

2 Young Guns (Go for It)

3 Bad Boys

4. Club Tropicana

5. Wake Me Up Before You Go Go

6. Careless Whisper

7. Freedom

8. Last Christmas

9. Everything She Wants

10. I'm Your Man

11. A Different Corner

12. Battlestations

13. Where Did Your Heart Go?

14. The Edge of Heaven

(You know that a song is very special when you've heard it a thousand times, and never get tired of it; that's "Everything She Wanrts" for me)

"His is a legacy of unquestionable brilliance which will continue to shine and resonate for generations to come," his former Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley said after he died. "George has left in his songs, in the transcendent beauty of his voice, and in the poetic expression of his soul, the very best of himself."

"George would be 'humbled' and 'knocked sideways' by the outpouring of love for (both of us)," Andrew said.

"He had a voice that would transport u. He was the finest singer/songwriter of a generation and has left the best himself 4 us. RIP GM."

Paul McCartney:"George Michael's sweet soul music will live on after his shocking death; having worked with him on a number ofoccasions his great talent always shone through and his self deprecating sense of humor made the experience more pleasurable."

Paul Young: "Oh no...what a year. George Michael, you were the smartest pop star I ever met. RIP now fella x

Martin Kemp of Spandau Ballet: "We are incredibly sad at the passing of our dear friend George Michael. A brillant artist and great songwriter."

James Corden: "I've loved George Michael for as long as I can remember. He was an absolute inspiration. Always ahead of his time."

Simply Red'sMick Hucknall:"It's hard to take in.One of our most talented singer songwriters has left us. RIP George Michael Such sad, tragic news. 2016 please end."

Elton John:"I am in deep shock, I have lost a beloved friend--the kindest, most generous soul. My heart goes out to his family, friends and all his fans. @GeorgeMichael #RIP

Howard Jones:"Can't believe George Michael has passed...one of the best singers and writers the UK has ever produced. I'm saddened...a lovely man."

-His uncle took his own life on June 25, 1963 (the same day George was born) ("Mother Had a Brother"); (his uncle, Colin, was also gay)

(He adimtted later that Colin actually died in January 1964, but kept the lyrics for "dramatic affect")

--George's older sister, Melanie, used to cut his hair when it got too hard for him to manange

--His duet with Aretha Franklin came before his first solo album, Faith, both in 1987; George said back in 1982 that he would like to work with Aretha "someday" (even appearing at Live Aid at the same time on July 13, 1985) She said, "He was looking good with a fresh haircut."

--George was part of 1985's Band Aid for famine relief in Africa and sang on "Don't They Know It's Christmas?"(George Michael is NOT creditted on the cover of the cover on the original record!)

--When Rob Thomas wrote "Smooth" (duet with Santana), he had George Michael in mind

When Jack attended a WHAM! show in Scotland, he admitted that he cried, because he saw how wrong he was about George.

At first, he had wanted his son to work with him in his restaurant, Mr. Jack's, but George said, "That gave me an idea of what I didn't want to do."

In contrast, his mother Lesley was always supportive of her son. They remained close until her passing on February 26, 1997 from skin

cancer. George said that it was "unnatural" for a mother to believe in a son so much.

George, of course, was devastated. She had always been supportive of him. The only time he gave a "shout out" at one of his concerts was to his mother, who was in the audience. "Hello mom!" (After the passing of Diana in August 1997, he would say, "It was like reliving my mom's death all over again".) He later said his shout out was "meant to be."

For Halloween 2017, I could not be anyone else, I love you George! I miss you everyday, my love!

I wrote to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on November 3, 2017, and got a reply.

Here is what I wrote:

"Hello. It is past time that George Michael is at least nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He began his career with WHAM! and the first recording with Fantastic in 1983, and his solo career began with 1987's Faith.

It would be a great honor to at least nomanted George Michael for the 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Thank you for your time.

~Katie"

Here is the reply:

"Hello Katie. Thank you for taking the time to contact us about the induction of George Michael into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Like you, rock and roll is part of our being, so we understand your passion about who gets into the Rock Hall, as a huge George Michael fan mself, I was devastated by his passing, I get it and I agree...it is frustrating when deserving artists are overlooked.

We have a long way to go, and just because George has yet to be inducted doesn't mean he won't be!

Rock and roll is about bringing people together, finding common threads to unite us. We are lucky to have experienced this great music and will continue to do so. Thanks for keeping the spirit of rock and roll alive. We are honored to be entrusted with perserving it!"

With Elton John at Diana's 1997 funeral; her favorite song by George was "You Have Been Loved" (which Bristish radio stations in her memory)

Go For It (Young Guns)

Everything She Wants

One More Try

Round Here

Go to the City (Flawless)

Edge of Heaven

Monkey

I'm Your Man

Careless Whisper

Hard Day

Amazing

Enjoy What You Do (WHAM! Rap)

Last Christmas

I gave myself an early Chrstmas present on Dec 7, 2017! (On Dec 23, 2017, I lit a candle for George at my church)

I also like the scene where Shark Tank overdoses, goes to Heaven and sees his musical hero.

Melanie used to cut her brother's hair when it was too hard for him to manage

Just like me, George hit his head when he was a child; only George hit his head when he was 8 when he fell down the stairs on his way to lunch. I fractured my skull when I was half George's age...four; and I believe, because of me, children are now not allowed to sit in the shopping cart at the supermarket.

George Michael Unplugged

1. Freedom '90

2. Fastlove

3. I Can't Make You Love Me

4. Father Figure

5. You Have Been Loved

6. Everything She Wants (He said this was the one WHAM! song of the evening; most people could guess which track he would play)

7. The Strangest Thing

8. Older

9. Star People

10. Praying For Time

11. Fantasy

What could be better than looking at these two everyday?

(The magnet I got is not among these)

Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael

1. Programme Start

2. Outside

3. Fastlove

4. Spinning the Wheel

5. Freedom '90

6. Killer/Papa Was a Rolling Stone

7. Too Funky

8. Faith

9. I Want Your Sex (Part 1; Part 2 is only on the CD!)

10. Jesus to a Child

11. Waltz Away Dreaming*

12. Father Figure

13. Older

14. Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me*

15. Kissing a Fool

16. I Knew You Were Waiting for Me*

17. Somebody to Love*

18. Monkey

19. One More Try

20. Star Peple

21. I Can't Make You Love Me

22. A Different Corner

23. You Have Been Loved

24. Careless Whisper

Bonus Features:

--Complete Discography

--Exclusive Interview on Parkinson's (BBC)

More fun facts:

--George got a job as a DJ in the Bel Air restaurant in Bushey at a dinner-dance